· Forestry and agroforestry systems are not gender-neutral. Compared with men, women are frequently disadvantaged, for a range of interrelated cultural, socio-economic and institutional reasons, in their access to and control over forest resources and in the availability of economic opportunities.
· Women often have highly specialized knowledge of trees and forests in terms of their species diversity, management and uses for various purposes, and conservation practices. Compared with men, womens knowledge tends to be linked more directly to household food consumption and health, which is particularly important during food crises.
· Women tend to play specific roles in forestry and agroforestry value chains. These are important for their incomes, and in turn for the well-being and food security of their households. However, womens roles in forestry value chains are generally poorly supported by policy-makers and service providers. The persistent lack of gender-disaggregated data further compounds this problem.
· Empowering women in the forest sector can create significant development opportunities for them and generate important spill-over benefits for their households and communities. Efforts to enhance womens participation in forest-related institutions should be strengthened because women can help to maximize synergies between the forest sector and food security for the benefit of all.